After many years working together in the vital Downtown NY scene, saxophonist Ivo Perelman and Matthew Shipp take their playing the next step after their previous duo "Callas", in thoughtful improv that expresses in both their mutual language and masterful skills.

"Last month [May 2016] Ivo Perelman does what has lately become an annual or semi-annual event for him: he released not one but a fistful of albums featuring new, totally improvised recordings. Choosing from a fairly small but intensely talented group of fellow music visionaries, the masterful tenor saxophonist's only real decision he usually makes in planning an album is which combination of these savants will he use to make music that don't exist in any form until the 'record' button is pushed. And then when he's done, he leaves Neil Tesser the thankless job of putting into words art way too abstract and arresting to adequately put into words.

Tesser actually does a commendable job in unraveling the mysteries behind the sequence of notes that only existed in that moment. To dissect this music you almost have to remove yourself from experiencing it at how Perelman's otherworldly sonorities is meant to be absorbed, which is at a gut level. Three of Ivo's fresh dishes are duets, and in a departure from the usual method of sizing up records one at a time, we're going to take on Corpo (with Matthew Shipp), Blue (with Joe Morris), The Hitchhiker (with Karl Berger) at once. Why?

Well, why not? One of the notable ways about Perelman is his adaptability to any given setting. Even within the sub-realm of one-on-ones, Perelman adjusts his line of attack to his lone counterpart. And most fascinating is how Perelman responds not just to the opposing instrument played but also the personality that comes through on that instrument. Taken all together, Corpo, Blue and The Hitchhiker provides a good demonstration of how Perelman draws contrasts in his duet collaborations while staying within his own character.

There's another purpose to these three sessions also applicable to the other two: Perelman for the first time applies an intervallic system whereby he gives the intervals between the pitches in a scale equal weight.

Corpo once again is Perelman squaring off with one of his favored partners, the pianist Shipp. This marks the sixteenth time the two have performed together on a record...since 2010. To the musical scholar, the way that Perelman and Shipp treat fifths, thirds and sevenths without any favoritism toward any of them might be the point of intrigue, but for the rest of us, a simpatico that has now become impeccable is the reason for the magic. Over twelve pieces performed and recorded in the same sequence as it's presented on the record, Perelman and Shipp move in the same direction, in the same sentiment and in the same cadence. Whether they are somber ("Part 1"), frisky ("Part 2"), moving between dissonance and dulcetness ("Part 5") or fluidity and choppiness ("Part 6"), it's hard to consistently tell who is leading whom. And when that's occurring, there's truly a oneness of mind.

[...] Ivo Perelman makes a lot of music because he has so much to say. Even when there is only one other musician alongside him with which to express all these new inspirations."-S. Victor Aaron, Something Else Reviews